S110V Full Diamond Sharpening (400 Super Vitrified and Venev)

CPM-S110V is the top tier in production stainless steel for carbide volume with a staggering 25-27vol% with about a 50/50 split on Vanadium enhanced Chrome Carbides, (CrV)7C3, and pure Vanadium Carbides, VC. Spyderco has been noted for heat treating it above 60HRc and 62HRc not being unheard of, likely range being 61+-1HRc. This is is very high end performance for stainless steels that essentially isn't matched by any other option. Very good and hard M390 can compete but really isn't on the same playing field. Good quality S90V is likely the only real alternative but options are very limited for quality heat treats that will be at the same hardness as what Spyderco is putting out in these factory S110V models. Even with these insane specs S110V is steel is matched or beat out by the more efficient high-alloy steels like 10V and K390 that form less total carbide at 17vol% but it's all VC. Having pure VC means the carbides have less negative impact on toughness but maximal increase in edge retention. At similar hardness they all cut the same but because 10V is tougher it can be run a lot harder, 65HRc, which pushes it well past S110V in both front end sharpness and overall performance including edge stability. Last note is that S110V is not nearly as difficult to sharpen as many have claimed. On a diamond stone it feels close to decent S30V. What differentiates it is Progression: #400 Super Vitrified Diamond 400F Venev Pheonix (14-20um) 800F Venev Pheonix (5-7um) 1200F Venev Pheonix (2-3um) 1um Diamond Gunny Juice on Cow Leather Final BESS Score: 190g